Download the Timber Frame Estimation App
Foundation Worksheet
Now let’s take a look at the foundation of your timber frame home project. Here are some questions for you and any building partners to consider.
Research your answers as much as possible and if you do not know at this time choose option 3.
Is your land you will build on flat?
- Completely flat
- Slight slope
- Moderate slope
- Extreme slope
- Side of a cliff
Your Numerical Score: ____
Is this home site easily accessible from the nearest street?
- Driveway is complete with gravel
- Driveway is visible with dirt road
- Clear path of undisturbed grass
- Unknown path with trees and obstacles
- Bridge or other infrastructure needed
Your Numerical Score: ____
Does the local building department require the foundation to have an engineering seal or stamp?
- No
- Probably Not
- Maybe
- Probably So
- Yes
Your Numerical Score: ____
Are you building a slab, piers, crawlspace, or a basement for your foundation?
- Slab
- Piers
- Crawlspace
- Combination of two of the above
- Basement
Your Numerical Score: ____
What will your subfloor system be constructed with?
- Conventional Wood or Lumber
- Manufactured Glue Laminated Timbers
- Pre-built floor trusses
- Heavy Timbers or Timber frame Material
- Concrete or Steel
Your Numerical Score: ____
What will your foundation’s wall system be made of?
- No wall (Slab or Piers)
- Concrete Block
- Poured Concrete Walls
- Pre-insulated Foundation System
- Insulated Concrete forms
Your Numerical Score: ____
What portion of the foundation area will be finished during construction?
- 0%
- 25%
- 50%
- 75%
- 100%
Your Numerical Score: ____
Calculations:
Add up your total score from the previous questions and place it in the blank. Range: (7-35)
Your Total Numerical Score: ____
Divide your score by 7
Total Score Divided By 7: ____ (Round the number up)
Find your approximation on the scale below.
- $30-$45
- $46-$61
- $62-$77
- $78-$93
- $94-$109
Your Price Range: ____
Now take your price range and multiply it by your desired foundation’s square footage.
Your Budget Range: ____
Main Floor Worksheet
Now let’s take a peak at the main floor of your timber frame home project. Here are some questions for you and any building partners to consider.
Research your answers as much as possible and if you do not know at this time choose option 3.
How many sinks will be on the main floor of your home?
1.1
2.2
3.3
4.4
5.5
Your Numerical Score: ____
What percentage of the main floor’s roof system will built using conventional construction with no heavy timbers?
- 100%
- 75%
- 50%
- 25%
- 0%
What is the primary construction of the main floor’s wall system?
- Conventional Lumber
- Conventional and Spray Foam
- Structural Insulated Panels
- Insulated Concrete Forms
- Glass
Your Numerical Score: ____
What type of flooring material will make up the largest percentage of the home?
- Carpet
- Wood
- Tile
- Exotic Hardwood
- Stone
Your Numerical Score: ____
What is the primary exterior siding?
- Vinyl
- Natural Wood
- Concrete Board
- Tree Bark
- Stone
Your Numerical Score: ____
How many fireplaces are on the main floor?
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5 or more
What is the square footage of exterior porches?
- 100-200 square feet
- 201-400 square feet
- 401-600 square feet
- 601-800 square feet
- 800 or more square feet
Your Numerical Score: ____
What is the highest ceiling height on your main floor?
- 8’
- 9’
- 10’
- 11’
- 12’ or more including vaulted ceilings.
Your Numerical Score: ____
Calculations:
Add up your total score from the previous questions and place it in the blank. Range: (8-40)
Your Total Numerical Score: ____
Divide your score by 8
Total Score Divided By 8: ____ (Round the number up)
Find your approximation on the scale below.
- $100-$125
- $125-$150
- $150-$175
- $175-$200
- $225 -$250
Your Price Range: ____
Now take your price range and multiply it by your desired foundation’s square footage.
Your Budget Range:
____
Second Floor Worksheet
It is now time to create budget numbers for the second floor of your timber frame home project. Here are some questions for you and any building partners to consider.
If you do not have a second floor or loft you can skip this section entirely.
Research your answers as much as possible and if you do not know at this time choose option 3.
What percentage of your second floor plan is a loft that is open to below?
1.80%
2.60%
3.40%
4.20%
5.0%
Your Numerical Score: ____
What type of siding is on the gable ends?
- Vinyl
- Natural wood
- Concrete board siding
- Tree bark
- Stone
Your Numerical Score: ____
How many fireplaces are on this floor of the house?
- 0
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4 or more
Your Numerical Score: ____
What is the square footage of the exterior decks, balconies, or porches originating on the second floor?
- 100-200 square feet
- 201-400 square feet
- 401-600 square feet
- 601-800 square feet
- 800 or more square feet
Your Numerical Score: ____
How many sinks are on the second floor?
- 0
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4 or more
Your Numerical Score: ____
What type of construction is used to build the exterior walls of the second floor?
- Conventional Lumber
- Conventional and Spray Foam
- Structural Insulated Panels
- Insulated Concrete Forms
- Glass
Your Numerical Score: ____
Primary choice of flooring for the second floor?
- Carpet
- Wood
- Tile
- Exotic Hardwood
- Stone
Your Numerical Score: ____
What type of material will be used for your finished roof?
- 25 year shingle
- 35 year shingle
- Metal
- 50 year architectural shingle
- Natural Slate or Cedar Shake
Your Numerical Score: ____
Calculations:
Add up your total score from the previous questions and place it in the blank. Range: (8-40)
Your Total Numerical Score: ____
Divide your score by 8
Total Score Divided By 8: ____ (Round the number up)
Find your approximation on the scale below.
1.$80-$105
- $105-$130
- $130-$155
- $155-$180
- $180-$205
Your Numerical Score: ____
Now take your price range and multiply it by your desired second floor square footage.
Your Budget Range: ____
Now let’s calculate your budget numbers
Take your previous numbers and compile a high and low range for our basic preliminary budget.
Low budget High Budget
Foundation: $_____ – $________
+
Main Floor: $______- $________
+
Second Floor: $______- $_______
=
Low Budget Range: $__________
High Budget Range $__________
Need Comparison
Foundation
Enter corresponding numerical values from budget worksheet
You Partner
Land
Engineering
Slab/Crawlspace/Basement
Subfloor Joist
Foundation Wall
Finished Basement Percentage
Foundation BudgetAverage ________ __________
Main Floor
Enter corresponding numerical values from budget worksheet
Percentage of Conventional Construction
Wall System Construction
Flooring
Siding
Porches
Ceiling
Main Floor Budget Average ______ ______
Second Floor
Loft Area Percentage
Exterior Siding
Fireplaces
Porches
Sinks
Wall System
Flooring Material
Roof Finish
Second Floor Budget Average ______ ______
Let’s take what we know and place it in the worksheet below as you begin to form your need list.
Number of Bathrooms :
Number of Bedrooms:
Foundation Square Footage:
Main Floor Square Footage:
Porch and Deck Square Footage:
Flooring:
Wall System:
Fireplaces:
Negatives Positives Plan Rank
Plan 1
Plan 2
Plan 3
Plan 4
Plan 5
Plan Rank Plan Average Top Plan
Plan 1
Plan 2
Plan 3
Plan 4
Plan 5
5 Qualifying Questions
Do you offer my desired timber frame profile?
How long has the Timber frame Home Company been in business?
Has your timber frame home company suffered a recent bankruptcy?
Are the timbers pre-cut at the timber frame home factory?
Will your timber frame home company send a crew to install their own products?
Are You Serious?
If the company you interviewed qualified according to the questions above, and you want to move to the front of their priority list you made a good start by reading this book. Here are some basic questions you can ask your prospective timber frame home companies and watch the attention for your project grow.
Can I see a proposal and purchase agreement for that floor plan?
If I made a down payment today when can you have my timbers ready for delivery and installation?
At what times during the project will you personally visit my site?
I have my plans, budget, and land in hand. What would be my next step with your company?
I read Timber Frame Home Package so I have a high level of understanding of the industry standards. How does your company differ from the explained standards?
| Timber Frame Proposal Analysis |
| Blue Prints Yes No |
| Usable Square Footage ________ |
| Wood Species ________ |
| Rafter Size ________ |
| Post Size ________ |
| Maximum Timber length ________ |
| Timber frame bent profiles ________ |
| Floor Beam Size ________ |
| Girder Size ________ |
| Pre-cut Structural Insulated Panels Yes No |
| Pre-cut electrical wiring chases Yes No |
| Kiln Dried Timbers Yes No |
| Loft Tounge & Groove Decking Yes No |
| Porch T&G Roof Decking Yes No |
| Interior T&G Roof Decking Yes No |
| Heavy Timber Stairs Yes No |
| Hand Hewn Yes No |
| Wall insulation Yes No |
| Caulking Yes No |
| Exterior stain Yes No |
| Interior stain Yes No |
| Siding Yes No |
| Lags & Screws Yes No |
| Porch System Yes No |
| Note Timber Sizes for
Posts, Girders Rafters Plates
Post Jacks Yes No |
| Oly Screws Yes No |
| Finish siding for Gable End Yes No |
| Roof Insulation Yes No R-value? ____ |
|
Plywood for Gables Yes No
Plywood for Roof Yes No
Plywood for Shed Dormers Yes No
Plywood for Gable Dormers Yes No
Plywood for Porch Roof Yes No |
| Gable end framing lumber Yes No |
| Roofing Felt Yes No |
| Borate Powder Yes No |
| Felt Buttons Yes No |
| Shingles or Metal Yes No |
| Windows Yes No |
| Exterior Doors Yes No |
| Interior Doors Yes No |
| Freight Yes No |
| Material Offloaded upon delivery Yes No
Other items:
|
| Total Material Package Cost:
Sales Tax:
Total Material Cost: |
| Timber Installation Yes No
If yes, what is installed?
|
| Dry In installation Yes No
If yes, what is installed?
|